Support tables for shoe machines



April 17, 1956 SCHAEFER, JR 2,742,011

SUPPORT TABLES FOR SHOE MACHINES Filed March l l, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet l April 1956 H. F. SCHAEFER, JR 2,742,011

SUPPORT TABLES FOR SHOE MACHINES Filed March 11, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheer. 2

' 66 Inventor Ha nAsFd'aha efer; Jr

hid ey I,

April 7, 1956 H. F. SCHAEFER, JR 2,742,011

SUPPORT TABLES FOR SHOE MACHINES Filed March 11, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a 66 Inventor Hans Fdqhaef'emk April 17, 1956 H. F. SCHAEFER, JR 2,742,011

SUPPORT TABLES FOR SHOE MACHINES Filed March 11, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheer. 4

9 Inventor Hana FJb/zaefend? United States Patent Ofi ice 2,742,011 Patented Apr. 17,. 1956 SUPPORT- TABLES FOR SHOE MACHINES Hans F. Schacfer, Jr., R'0ckport,.Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation;,Flemington, N. J., a corporation'of New Jersey The invention relates to improvements in supporting frames for shoe machines, more particularly in that type of floor. based hollow frame employed by aseated operator. wherein is enclosed a' driving motor and other driving and control connections. for guarding the operating partsof the machine in an effective manner against accidental contact or'from accumulations of dust or foreign matter, while at the same time providing convenient accessibility to the motor and connections thereto without the necessity of dismantling the frame or disassembling the machine therefrom.

An important object of the invention is to provide a shoe machine with a novel and advantageous form of conveniently accessible hollow floor based frame, particularly of the type employed by a seated operator, an operating machine head being mounted in a forwardly projecting position and a recess being. provided for the operators feet and knees, in which frame there is afull protective enclosure for driving connections and controls of the machine, arranged to render the driving. connections and controls easily accessible for adjustments, replacements or for other purposes without dismantling the machine or the driving connections.

A further object of the invention is to improve'the rigidity and mechanical strength of shoe machine frames of the hollow, full" enclosure type, in a manner to facilitate the use of=a relatively simple one-piece casting meeting all the mounting requirements for driving controls and:

connections, while at the same time avoiding inconvenient locationof controls and connections in inaccessible spaces.

A common practice in constructing floor based frames for shoe sewing and other machines of a similar nature is to provideone or more main vertical support memberson which are carried an operating head, and driving and control; connections surrounded by the main support members. Surrounding the main support members are usually metal closure plates. Where frequent access to the driving; and control connections is necessary, hand openings are often cut in the closure plates or the closure plates themselves are mounted on the support members in a readily removable manner. Hand openings usually are inadequate and the use of detachable fastenings particularly fitted for removable closure plates necessitates carefully designed. joints between the plates and support members to preservethe structural strength of the frame. In

any event, the frame is weakened when the. closure-plates are. removed so that stronger support members are required than Where removability is not essential.

Other requirements for shoe sewing or other similar machine frames include the provision of a conveniently located counter beneath the operating point in such machine. For this purpose it is common'in mounting. a sewing or other operating head to lay a fiat wooden table top over an open frame and to mount the driving mechanism beneath the table top, the drivingmechanism' frequently being bolted directly to the underside of the table top.

Such arrangement facilitates accessibility where the sides are left open: but with the sewing headsupported directly by the table top above the drivingymechanism, driving:

connections, such as a belt passingfrom the operating head to the driving mechanism must run through the-ta ble top; A difliculty with such arrangementisthat'where adjustments are attempted, requiring ;simultaneous inspection of both the machine head and the'driving mechanism, it is impossible to.view=both the headiand: the, driving. mechanismfrom one location. The services. of two people are then required evenfor a minor-adjustment. Furthermore, it is not theusual practiceto enclosethedriving: mechanism, its controlling treadlestor other-devices when: mounted in this way, but to-leave thespace below-the= table top free and clear for convenient access. Accord ingly, entry of dust 'and foreign materials addsto the dilficulties of adjustment, and thedanger ofaccidental? contact; with moving parts increases the hazards-offioperation.

In the embodiment of 1 the; presentinvention. afloor based frame having a simple, box-shapedhollow enclosure for driving mechanism extends from. the floor to, alevelconvenient for engagement by the elbowsiofa seatedop erator and is constructed with a support of reducedwidthwise section on the enclosure, thesupportprojecting above the remainder ofthe enclosure, and a detachable table; top surrounds the support to cover the hollow-of the en-- closure. To provide adequate-access to and. convenient visibility for the drivingsmechanism int the-.interionof the enclosure from a single location above the: machine, the: table top is-secured in aposition onthe enclosure merely by its own: weight or'by any. convenient well-knowmformt of readily removable fastening. Thus, merelyby'removingthe table top the operating and-.driving-parts aremade visible to the operator from, a position above the en-- closure. By replacing the tabletop, full protection for the driving parts and conventional utility are-obtained.

These and other features of the invention, as herein-- after describedandclaimed will be apparent from the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation partly. broken away. to show the construction of the control connections-inside the enclosure for a, machine, embodying: the features of the present invention; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional planviewof the 'machineenclosure. illustrated in Fig. 1. taken along the IineIIQ-II-inthat. figure;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side view-on an enlarged. scale of the machine enclosure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in right side elevation'of the upper portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. l. takenalong the lines IV-IV;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of, different partsof the housing and support for the machine headshown in. separated relation;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the machine and. enclosure shown with the table top.removed;-and

Fig. 7 is a perspective detailed view of portions. of a head support projecting. from. the enclosurev and of the table top separated from. the enclosure.

The machine illustrated in. the drawingszis intended for sewing shoe uppers to seek linings during thev manufacture of -slip-lasted shoes, and isof the type disclosed. in mapplication for United States Letters Patent SeriaLNo. 297 216, filed July 5, 1952, in the name of the present inven tor. That machine is arranged with aframe based. on the floor and extending to a height convenient for use by a seated operator who sits as close as possible to the sewing point, the work being fed away from the operator just below the operators eye level, so that the edges of the. parts are clearly seen at all times and so that they maybe brought into accurate edgewise register, in accordance. with accepted procedures for slip-lasted shoe work. It is also frequently desirable in order to steady the positioning movements imparted to a shoe or otherwise to handle the work effectively for the operator to rest his elbows upon a table top spaced a convenient distance beneath the point of sewing operations. The work and tools also are usually supported by said table top.

The illustrated machine is driven by an individual electric motor and clutch transmitter controlled by foot treadle operated connections, and entirely enclosed and protected within the hollow of a main rigid enclosure, the treadle for which connections projects forwardly above the operating point in the machine. For accommodating the feet and legs of the operator, the main enclosure supporting the machine is formed with a knee recess, there being forward projections at the base and at the upper portions of the enclosure above and below the recess. In addition to these characteristics, it is preferable to guard the operator from accidental contact with the operating parts of the machine and to exclude dust and other foreign materials from the operating parts to as large a degree as possible by complete enclosure of the machine while still providing a construction which renders the operating parts conveniently accessible for adjustments and other service needs. To meet these needs, a comparatively simple, smooth-contoured hollow one-piece frame has been provided as an integral casting, dispensing with the use of the usual fabricated construction, which embodies vertical support members and separately attached closure plates.

Convenient access to the operating parts and control connections in the illustrated machine has been preserved in the present machine without the use of removable closure plates by providing a detachable table top, the presence or absence of which in nowise disturbs the relationship of the operating and control connections in the machine. By removing the table top, complete visibility and convenient access is afforded to all operating parts and control connections so that even where horizontal floor space is at a premium adjustments and servicing requirements are readily met. To avoid the necessity of removing the sewing head of the machine it is carried by a support integral with the enclosure but of smaller widthwise cross-sectional area and extending above the face of the enclosure which supports the table top.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the sewing head of the machine comprises an operating frame indicated at 10, having mounted within it stitch-forming devices and actuating mechanisms therefor, including an eye'pointed needle 12 (Fig. l), a presser foot 14, a work support 16, and a main sewing shaft 18 for actuating the stitch-forming devices. The sewing shaft carries a pulley 20 secured thereto within the head frame and a hand wheel 22 projecting outside the right end of the head frame. Surrounding the pulley 2!) is a V-belt 24 extending downwardly and about a driven pulley 26 of an electric motor and transmitter 28. To control the motor transmitter 28 it has an arm 30 projecting forwardly beside the driven pulley 26. The arm has pivotally connected to it the upper end of a treadle control rod 32, the lower end of which is similarly connected to one arm of a bracket 34, having secured to it a plate 36 to form the main control treadle for the machine.

Other control connections for the machine include means for raising the presser foot to enable work to be adjusted or replaced in the machine and means for adjusting the rate of work fed through the machine while the machine is running. For these purposes the presser foot is connected to an arm 38 (Figs. 1 and 6) rotatable in the machine head and pivotally connected to the upper end of a downwardly extending rod 40. The rod 40 has pivotally connected at its lower end a right side treadle 42, depression of which causes the presser foot to be raised. To return the right side treadle to a raised position the rod 40 is acted upon by a tension spring 44 (see Fig. 1) connected at one end to a collar on the rod and at the other end to a pin fastened in the machine frame.

To change the feed movement of the machine the hen has rotatably mounted at its rear an arm 46 connected to the upper end of a rod 48. The lower end of the rod 48 is pivotally connected to an arm St? secured to a shaft 57. rotatable in bearings 54 bolted inside the hollow main enclosure for the machine. The shaft 52 also has connected to it an arm 56 pivotally connected to the upper end of a rod 58, the lower end of which is similarly connected to a left side treadle 6t) disposed in convenient relationship to the main control treadle 34', 36.

The main floor based hollow machine supporting enclosure, in accordance with the principal feature of the invention is illustrated by the single integral casting 62 closed on three sides but having an opening 64 at its base end through which the control treadles project. The supporting enclosure also has rigidly fastened to it a sheet metal rear cover 66 forming a fourth vertical side wall of the enclosure. The cover 66 is secured along its upper edge to an angle iron 67 made fast at its ends to an elbow level portion of the casting 62. At its upper elbow level portion the casting has a forward projection 68 forming a machine head weight carrying structure. At its base the casting has a pair of forward projections 70 forming in a vertical direction between them and the projection 68 a recess for the feet of the operator while sitting in front of the machine with his eye level just above the point of sewing operations in the machine head. The casting also has an internal shelf 72, on which the motor transmitter 28 is mounted, extending horizontally about midway the vertical height of the hollow enclosure, directly above the location of the treadles and somewhat to the rear beneath the sewing head frame of the machine.

The main control treadle 34, 36 and the right and left side control treadles 52 and 60 rock about pivotal mountings having the same axis in the base projections 70. The pivotal mounting axis of the treadles consists of two alined shafts 74, which are secured in spaced lugs on the main treadle, two at either end of the bracket 34. The central portions of the shafts 74 are surrounded loosely by bearings in brackets 76 and 78 to which the right and left treadles 42 and 60 are secured. The projecting ends of the shafts 74 are rotatably mounted in bearings 80 and 82 bolted within the two base projections 70.

The detachable table top is shown at 84 and comprises a relatively heavy wooden plank mounted on the projection 68 and formed with a cutout section 86 surrounding the head support (see Fig. 7). The cutout section of the table top fits closely with three sides of the hollow machine head support indicated at 88, which is of smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the enclosure, the table top being of greater depth and widthwise dimension than the enclosure casting 62 with substantial overhang both at the front and sides of the enclosure casting. The support 88 projects above a table top mounting face on the remainder of the hollow enclosure which has a horizontal rib 90 running around its upper edge on which the table top is mounted. In its illustrated form the support 88 extends from the front toward the rear of the enclosure but is narrower in width and depth.

The support 88 is provided with three external protecting side walls and an intermediate partition 92, which divides the support into operating and driving compartments 94 and 6 (see Fig. 5). The machine head frame 10 is detachably mounted on the support 88 and has a corresponding construction with a driving compartment 98 (see Fig. 6) lining up vertically with the driving compartment 96 of the main supporting enclosure. The actuating mechanism for the machine is mounted in a second compartment 100 of the head frame disposed directly above but not communicating with the compartment 94 of the supporting enclosure (see Fig. 5). To secure the head frame 10 in position, it has horizontally extending flanges through which pass four bolts 102 which are threaded into the left end wall and the central partition 92 of the head support 88, the right end wall of the support lining" up vertically with the right end wallilof the head f'rametoproVide-an enclosure for the driving 'com partment. Y i

The mainsewing shaft'1'8 is arranged to extend frorn' the actuating compartment 100 in-"the" head frame through the drivingcompartment -'9fl -and-"th rough a circular opening 104 in theright sidewall of the head frame 10' see Fig. J Outside-the right sidewall of the frame is the 'hand wheel -22"'arranged for convenient manipulation: Tofill infthe side wallopening 104 between the sewing shaft and the head frame, a centrally perforated disk 106 (Figs;- land 6) .surroundsthe shaft and is provided' with suitable peripheral spring-tab's engaging the edges of the opening to secure th'e 'di'sk inplace; l The driving and control connectionswhieh occupy the driving compartment 96; 98 include *th'e belt' 24 and the treadle rod'40: The treadlerod"-passes to the rear of the head frame beside the belt- 24:

To enclose the'rear sideof thehead frame 10am to provide: convenient thread supply supporting" means, a thread supply casting 108 (Fig. 5 )*i's'-' formed to'complement the edges surrounding the openings-= in thehead f'rame. A rearward bulge in the thread supply casting protects the arm 46 and the connected end of th'etreadle control rod 481 Oneof theedges on thesupply casting isintersected by the opening l04'i surroundi'ngithe mairr sewingishaft and the-supply'casting has a cutaway-section 110:completingethe circle of Ttheop'ening Zl'04-. Thesupply casting 108 alsohastaarear walh but theleft side" wall of the driving compartment partition is not covered by the supply castingi Teclosethe'left" sidewall of the driving compartment, a. cover memberz112 is provided which fits snugly with the edges of. thethread-supply casting. 1'08 and is removably clamped bly, a thumb screw 114 passing through the cover member. into the head frame 10. l i t The thread supply casting 108 'is secured to the angle iron 67 by bolts 116 passing through the thread supply casting into the angle iron. The supply casting is rectangular and fits within a rearwardly extending portion of the cutout section 84 in the table top not filled by the support 88. At the forward end of the thread supply casting are corresponding bolts 118 passing into threaded engagement with rear step portions 120 on the main enclosure (Figs. 4 and 5), the supporting surfaces of which are level with the table top supporting flange 90. The thread supply casting 108 has a thread cop mounting well 124 and a wholly enclosed channel portion 126 lining up with the driving compartments 96 and 98 so as to completely surround the driving belt 24.

To provide a mounting for a portion of the feed mechanism in the sewing head which will not be disturbed when the cover. 112 is removed, the cover has a semicircular cutaway section 127 surrounding a cup-shaped plate 128 clamped to the head frame by bolts 130 (see Figs. 3 and 6).

It is evident that the construction thus described enables convenient access for assembly and adjustment to all of the parts in the machine without dismantling or dismounting the machine head or the driving and control connections. Thus easy inspection of the driving belt is possible merely by removing the disk 106 or the cover 112 from the head frame. Removal of the cover 112 also permits limited access to the driving mechanism in the machine. Where full access is required to the transmitter or for renewal of the belt 24 the thread supply casting 108 is unbolted from the main enclosure. Removal of the thread supply casting exposes the transmitter through the slot 86 of the table top. To replace the belt 24 the disk 106 is disengaged from its opening 104, the belt being shiftable laterally through the rearward portion of the opening 104 and over the hand wheel 22. The belt is then moved to the right along the sewing shaft, and carried over the hand wheel.

6 "For am'o're complete overhaul or inspection-of the driving andcontroh connections, the table top 84 is removed entirely'which provides access to all the space withinthe main enclosure and exposes all'of the operating parts, the driving relationship between the transmitter and'the sewinghead remaining unaffected. The order of removal'is selective, one part being capable of removal independently-of the other-so that for access to particularparts of the machine, either the driving or the control connections, ditferent partsof the entire: framework may be dismantled, thus providing a highly effective organizationand adaptability while retaining the machine and driving: connections fixed in their respective positions; The nature and scope of the invention having. been indicated and: an embodiment having been particularly described, what is claimed: is:

. 1. In a shoe'machine having a floor basedframe of the type employed by a seated operator, composed of aholflow-enclosure formed with three vertical side walls extending from thefioor to' a level adapted for con venientnengagement by the elbows of the operator, and with for-ward'projections -atits base and upper portions formingawrecess adapted to receive the legs of the oper ator, a: control. treadle pivotally mounted in the base projection, a driving motor-mounted within the hollow of the enclosure a table top supporting face on the upper portion: of. the enclosure, a support integral with the enclosure but of smaller widthwise dimension projecting above: the table top. supporting face, an operating headdetachably mounted J on the support, and driving and controlconnections running from the head to the motor and control'treadles within the enclosure, in combination-with aa-detachable: table top on the supporting face having. a: cutout section: in the. table top to fit the support andtcoveringuthel hollow of the enclosure to provide access-tothe motor andthe connections when the table top, is removed;

, 21, In. atshoermachiner having a floor based frame of the type employed by a seated operator, composed of a hollow enclosure formed with four vertical sides extending from the floor to a level adapted for convenient engagement by the elbows of the operator and with forward projections at its base and upper portions forming a recess adapted to receive the legs of the operator, a control treadle pivotally mounted in the base projection, a driving motor mounted within the hollow of the enclosure above the treadle, a table top supporting face on the upper portion of the enclosure, a support integral with the enclosure but of smaller widthwise dimension projecting above the driving motor, an operating head driven from the motor and detachably mounted on the support, and a belt and control connections between the head, the motor and the treadle, in combination with a detachable table top on the supporting face mounted in surrounding relation to the support and in covering relation to the hollow of the enclosure at the sides of the support to provide access to the motor, the belt and connections when the table top is removed.

3. In a shoe machine having a floor based frame of the type employed by a seated operator, composed of a hollow enclosure formed with three vertical sides extending from the floor to a level adapted for convenient engagement by the elbows of the operator and with forward projections at its base and upper portions to form a recess for the legs of the operator, a control treadle pivotally mounted in the base projection, a shelf within the hollow of the enclosure, a table top mounting face on the enclosure above the shelf, a driving motor mounted on the shelf inside the enclosure, a support integral with the enclosure but of smaller widthwise dimension projecting above the mounting face, and an operating head driven from the motor and detachably mounted on the support, in combination with a detachable table top on the mounting face, having a cutout section surrounding the head support and covering the hollow of the frame to provide access to the motor when the table is removed and control connections between the treadle and the motor entirely enclosed within the hollow of the enclosure.

4. In a shoe sewing machine having a floor based frame of the type employed by a seated operator, composed of a hollow enclosure extending from the floor to a level adapted for convenient engagement by the elbows of the operator, a transmitter mounted within the hollow of the enclosure, a support integral with the enclosure but of smaller widthwise dimension projecting above the remaining portion of the enclosure, an operating head having operating and driving compartments detachably mounted on the support, the support having corresponding compartments lining up with those of the head, a horizontal operating shaft in the head, control treadlcs in the enclosure and driving and control connections running from the driving compartment in the head and the transmitter to the control treadles, in combination with a detachable table top on the enclosure with a cutout section in the table top surrounding the support on three sides and covering the hollow of the enclosure to provide access to the transmitter and the connections when the table top is removed.

5. in a shoe sewing machine having a floor based frame of the type employed by a seated operator, composed of a hollow enclosure extending from the fioor to a level adapted for convenient engagement by the elbows of the operator, a transmitter mounted within the hollow of the enclosure, a support integral with the enclosure but of smaller widthwise dimension projecting above the remaining portion of the enclosure, an operating head having operating and driving compartments detachably mounted on the support, the support having corresponding compartments lining up with those of the head, a horizontal operating shaft in the head, control treadles in the enclosure and driving and control connections running from the driving compartment in the head and the transmitter to the control treadles, in combination with a detachable table top on the enclosure with a cutout section in the table top surrounding the support on three sides and covering the hollow of the enclosure about said three sides to provide access to the transmitter and the connections when the table top is removed, and a thread supply casting mounted within that portion of the cutout section beyond the head support at the fourth side of the support to complete the covering for the enclosure.

6 In a shoe machine having a floor based frame of the type employed by a seated operator, composed of a hollow rectangular enclosure extending from the fioor to a level adapted for convenient engagement by the elbows of the operator, a support integral with the enclosure but of a smaller widthwise dimension projecting above the remainder of the hollow enclosure, and an operating head detachably mounted on the support, in combination with a detachable table top on the upper portion of the enclosure having a cutout section to fit the sides of the support and covering a portion of the hollow of the enclosure to provide access to the space within the enclosure when the table top is removed, a thread supply casting secured to the enclosure within a rearwardly extending portion of the cutout section in the table top not filled by the support, and a sewing head cover removably clamped to the operating head fitting the edges of the thread supply casting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,328,011 Haas Aug. 31, 1943 2,398,696 Colegrove Apr. 16, 1946 2,398,697 Colegrove Apr. 16, 1946 2,652,800 Scheiwiller Sept. 22, 1953 

